...stem cells.They political controversy over stem cells (which are obtained from embryos, not fetuses, usually "left over" from reproductive technologies like IVF) has obscured the facts (surprise!). While theoretically powerful therapeutic tools, especially in the area of regenerating normally non-regenerative cells like neurons, the actual experience with stem cells has been disappointing, to say the least. Part of this has to do with the difficulty identifying the exact stage of the cell (unipotent, totipotent, cell line committed, etc.), but there have been numerous other technical problems. The potential is still there, but the vsion created 10 years ago now looks like the old Tomorrowland. Research should continue, but in the meantime it is still prevention rather than treatment that will make the greatest impact on health in this country and the world in general.
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